![]() It’s not difficult to see why Freese is a great drummer for Foo Fighters. If it was a livestreamed audition for fans, it’s safe to say he passed with flying colors. The pre-recorded special may have been a sort of public rehearsal or sound check, but clearly no further rehearsing is needed: The performances were air-tight, with the band discussing only a couple of minor refinements.įreese, one of the best, most versatile and most experienced rock drummers working today, shows why he’s got the chops to fill the shoes of both Hawkins and Grohl (himself one of the greatest drummers in rock history, although he’s the Foos’ lead singer and rhythm guitarist), playing with just the right amount of steadiness, power and flash. The band also roared through a couple of past hits, including a blazing version of “Monkey Wrench” that found Freese bringing an even punkier energy to the song. ![]() Later, we see Grohl and Freese going over a part in a universal musician-ese: “It goes ‘diggy-diggy-diggity baw-baw-baw,'” etc. You can catch Freese and the Foos on the band’s upcoming tour that starts May 24 at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion in Gilford, NH.Josh Freese with Foo Fighters guitarist Pat Smear (Photo: Andrew Stuart)Īmid the songs, there was much typical rock-band-at-rehearsal banter, recalling their early days as musicians - Freese talks at length about a band he played with at Disneyland when he was 12 that was apparently called Polo “LaCoste opened for you!” one bandmember quips. ![]() Maybe if I was the drummer for Muse, I could say, ‘Ok, I’m successful enough where I don’t have to do anything else except concentrate on my band.’ … Being in just one band… I honestly fantasize about that sometimes. Variety of playing music with different people in different situations. “Aside from having multiple sources of income, I like the “It’s not like I woke up one day and said, ‘I’m going to be a session drummer.’ It just sort of happened,” Freese told the blog Drummer’s Journal in 2016. With a pristine reputation as one of the most in-demand session drummers in the business, he has also recorded for Katy Perry, Michael Bublé, Nelly Furtado, Kelly Clarkson, Avril Lavigne, Social Distortion and others. Over the years his resume has expanded to include more than 300 recordings in genres ranging from pop to country, co-writing songs with Queens of the Stone Age, Devo and Sting. He’s also released numerous solo projects where he’s credited as the singer, songwriter and instrumentalist.Īs his experience clearly depicts, Freese has no trouble switching up styles. He grew up in a family of musicians, with his father working as a musical director at the Walt Disney Company and his mother being a trained classical pianist. Freese was most recently drumming for Danny Elfman and the Offspring, with whom he was touring up until last year. He’s also a longtime friend of both Grohl and Hawkins and is a seasoned session act who has performed and toured with rock bands Guns N’ Roses, A Perfect Circle, Puddle of Mudd, Nine Inch Nails, Weezer, Paramore, the Replacements, Sting and the Vandals, to name a few. Although the name might not seem entirely familiar at first glance, it’s more than likely you’ve either heard or even own a record that has him listed in the credits.įreese joins the group after having played alongside a star-studded lineup for the Hawkins tribute concerts that the Foos put together in London and Los Angeles last fall. Taking on the challenge of filling Hawkins’ role, as Variety tipped back in January, will be Josh Freese. ![]() The Foo Fighters are gearing up for a bustling touring season - their first without drummer Taylor Hawkins, who died tragically in Colombia last year - that kicks off with a date in New Hampshire in the coming week. ![]()
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